2. In regards to the obscure author, do you think, like Hibbet says, attacking the text straightforwardly is the best way to translate it? If not what would you try to do when the text in its own native language isn't clear?
3. How do you feel about Hibbet's process of translating a work where he will read it until he knows it well, translate it, and then brings it back into Japanese again along with research without looking at previous translations until he has a full understanding, and has finished a draft. Do you feel like there are any steps you don't agree with (for your own translations) or that there are some things that would perhaps change the value of the translation?
1. I think that both of these elements are critical. As much as possible, I think a translator should attempt to write a good story without compromising too much the commentary made by the author of the original.
ReplyDelete2. I like that Hibbet says he doesn't necessarily just pick the most popular answer when he seeks help from colleagues. In difficult spots, seeking help from others is definitely important, but also important is maintaining use of one's own intuition.
3. To me, I think that not referencing previous translations is very important. Especially because there is never a perfect translation of any work, it is important that the translator of a given work impart a little of their own style to the text, while of course doing their best to capture the author's style and feeling.
1. I think that both fluent English storytelling and getting across the author's commentary are important, so the translator should try to do both as well as possible.
ReplyDelete2. If the text is not clear to me, I don't think it's automatically confusing because of the author. It might just be a gap in my own knowledge, so asking other translators is important because they might understand the text better than you do.
3. I think that not looking at previous translations in general is good so that the translator is not heavily influenced and create their own translation. I think it's best to base the translation off of the raw Japanese text because it will be this translator's own understanding of the original text, not someone else's ideas. However, if something is extremely hard to understand from the original text, looking at a previous translation might be helpful in cultivating the translator's own idea of it.
1. I think fluent storytelling in translation and bringing across commentary are equally important when translating. The most important thing is to stick with the original text and don't omit anything the author expressed or add in anything that the author did not write about.
ReplyDelete2. When the text is obscure, the best way I could think of is just go and ask the author him/herself. This is probably the most accurate and efficient way to tackle the problem. Asking other translator's opinion can also bring in thoughts from other perspectives which can be another helpful thing to do.
3. I like his way of translating. Since he's not reading other versions of translation, he is not influenced by other translators either positively or negatively. Because once another translation is read it will be hard to get it out of ones mind which makes the translation process even harder. By understanding the text fully by himself, he's consistent with his own interpretation which will make his translation flow smoother all the way till the end.
1. I don’t think it’s necessarily the translator’s responsibility to make the story more socially or politically conscious, but I do think the translator should put in the effort to make the story more fluent in English. I think it’s important for the translator to keep the reader in mind: would an American reader understand this story?
ReplyDelete2. I think the best solution is to clear up any confusing text by contacting the author directly. If that’s not possible, collecting different interpretations from different people is the next best solution, I think.
3. With the translation assignment for this week (on Japanese history), for example, I had to reread the same sentence multiple times, make sure I understand the idea of the sentence, break it up into smaller parts, rearrange the smaller parts and translate it into English so that it would have the same meaning as the original Japanese text. I think Hibbet’s process is very comprehensive, and necessary to translate the text the right way.